One Year After the Fires: Fire-Hardened Architecture That’s Still Beautiful

View rear of Swallow Project home with glass wall, outdoor patio and pool | Contemporary Architecture Design | fire-hardened design | Dean Larkin Design

A year has passed since the 2025 California wildfires reshaped neighborhoods, regulations, and the way many people think about building. The urgency around fire-hardened architecture is real, and necessary. But some think that “fire safe” requires aesthetic compromise.

At Dean Larkin Design, we do not accept that tradeoff.

We see new homes without eaves, sometimes flattened silhouettes or simplified shapes that prioritize compliance, sometimes at the expense of character. Some houses without overhangs can feel visually abrupt.

Our position is simple: a house can be beautiful and meet fire code.

Good design matters. Proportion matters. Light, shadow, and craft matter. Fire-hardening should adapt the method and the materials rather than diminish design.

Counter-Intuitive by Design

Our firm has always liked to turn things on their side. Fire-hardening is no exception.

There’s a prevailing assumption that certain materials are simply off the table in fire zones. Clients often come to us saying, “We love wood, but we know we can’t have it.”

That’s not always true.

We’ve designed with wood in high-risk fire zones for years when it meets the right qualifications. Heavy timber, over roughly four inches thick, behaves differently in a fire. Rather than igniting quickly, it chars and smolders. And then, critically, it stops.

In some cases, a heavy-timber structure behaves more predictably than lightweight assemblies. A log home, for example, doesn’t burn the way people might expect it to.

It’s counter-intuitive. And that’s exactly why it works

The Fire-Zone “No List” Is Often More Flexible Than People Think

In early conversations, we often hear a familiar set of assumptions:

People Think…	But you can…
“We can’t use wood.”	Use heavy timber and qualified systems that char vs. ignite
“Overhangs are banned.”	Keep eaves/overhangs with smart detailing + non-combustible protections
“No covered outdoor rooms.”	Design loggias + covered terraces with ember-aware detailing
“Fire-safe means ugly.”	Keep proportion, depth, and light—change materials, not the design.

Yes, Overhangs and Loggias Can Still Be Part of the Design

California design is inseparable from shade and outdoor living. So we focus on how those elements are built: the materials, the edges, the enclosure, and the details that help manage ember exposure. The goal is to design these features with intent.

Fire-Hardening Is Not a Style

Some fire-aware homes can feel severe when the process becomes overly reductive. We see fire-hardening as a layer, not an aesthetic. You can meet the reality of fire zones while still designing for:

Light and shadow
Warmth and texture
Proportion and comfort
Spaces that feel like home

Latimer loggia - fire-hardened design - Dean Larkin Design

Adapting, Not Abandoning, Our Design Language

Dean Larkin Design is not reinventing itself to work in fire zones. We are not abandoning our architectural point of view. We are adapting where necessary, but the same principles of luxury, livability, and light still guide our work. Fire-hardening is just another layer of intelligence in the design process.

In a landscape where some feel new home design must feel cautious and pared back, we believe there is room for confidence and elegance.

Looking Forward

One year after the fires, the conversation around architecture in California has shifted permanently. Safety is non-negotiable. But beauty is still possible.

Fire-hardening does not have to erase personality, warmth, or craft. With the right thinking, and the courage to challenge assumptions, it can coexist with exceptional design.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fire Safe Design

Below are answers to five common questions about fire safe design.

1. What is fire hardening in architecture?

Fire hardening refers to design strategies that reduce vulnerability to wildfire, including material choices, detailing, site planning, and construction methods. Some fire-resistant strategies include:

Ember-resistant venting
Non-combustible siding
Tempered glass windows
Decking with ignition-resistant materials
Vegetation clearance zones

2. Is wood completely prohibited in fire prone areas?

No. Certain wood applications may still be possible, especially when heavier sections, tested assemblies, or fire rated products are used and detailed correctly.

3. Are fire safe homes only about materials?

Materials are important, but so are detailing, proportions, assemblies, and how elements come together as a system.

4. Are covered outdoor spaces allowed in fire zones?

Covered loggias, terraces, and outdoor rooms may still be feasible depending on their design, materials, and relationship to the structure and site.

5. Does fire safe design guarantee protection from wildfires?

No design can guarantee outcomes. Fire safe strategies are intended to reduce risk and improve resilience based on current codes, knowledge, and site conditions.

See FAQs about Rebuilding After Fire

Contact Dean Larkin Design for Beautiful Fire Safe Design

Planning a new home build or renovation in a fire-prone area? Let’s talk about fire-hardened architecture design that still feels generous, bright, and beautiful.

Dean Larkin Design was established in Los Angeles in 1999. This contemporary architecture firm maximizes the intrinsic potential of a location while meeting each client’s specific lifestyle, business or institutional needs. Dean Larkin is very familiar with both historical and contemporary homes in So Cal and the entire Los Angeles area, and the firm endeavors to achieve a complexity that is multi-layered with an effortless elegance. For a design that is modern and innovative, unlocks your location’s innate potential by making specific use of light, views and more, and is uniquely designed for the way you live, contact Dean Larkin for a consultation.

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